Happy to be the ‘odd one out’
MULTIPLE premiership winning horseman Lance Justice was happy to be the ‘odd one out’ at Tabcorp Park Melton during the weekend.
Seven races were conducted during the night program, with Emma Stewart and Andy Gath each winning three.
Stewart was triumphant with Rocknroll Ronnie, Two Times Bettor and Poster Boy, while Gath was successful with Hit The Sky, Mclovin and Arden Voyage
Splitting the pair was Justice who was victorious with handy trotter Carnera.
Causing an upset at $13.60 on the Tote, Carnera’s win was also the perfect way to celebrate his 100th start according to Justice.
“He’s been a pretty consistent horse all along,” Justice said. “Another win is the ideal way to bring up his ton, but his overall record of a win or placings is at 37 per cent, which is pretty reasonable.
“Add in the times he’s finished fourth and he’s weighed-in close to 50 per cent of his starts.
“I thought he went quite well at his previous start when third off 20 metres at Ballarat and expected him to be in the finish in Melton.”
With Justice holding the reins, Carnera led from barrier three before being eased to take a trail behind the favourite Orlando Storm.
Taken away from the pegs to be three-wide around the final bend, the son of Muscle Mass reclaimed the lead in the shadows of the post to score by a metre-and-a-half from the Gath-trained Classy Lola.
Orlando Storm battled on to be four-and-a-half metres away third in 2:02 over 2240 metres.
“Around the turn he was feeling pretty good, but it wasn’t until halfway up the straight I knew he had them covered,” Justice said.
“I’ve got nothing special in mind for him and will probably put him around in a similar trot next week.”